The Moon of Artemis

The First of Many Nights

I understood that I had not specified where exactly on the Thames River we were supposed to meet, but the both of us knew that I would find her. Vampires are instinctual creatures; our senses are enhanced incomparably to that of any human or witch. We could smell like a wolf, see like a bird, and feel our emotions unlike any other creature.

I had arrived at the thames, maybe a quarter till sundown. I could vaguely sense her jasmine-mint aroma in the breezy air that surrounded me. It was faint, but I could sense that she had just been here recently. She was, give or take, about a kilometer or two down west of the Thames. With my vampiric speed, I eagerly sped down the thames, careful to not be seen by any passerby. Although, it was beginning to get dark and I doubted many people would be wandering the streets now—with all the warmbloods going missing lately...

I knew it was risky of me to offer that Seraphina and I stay out late at night, knowing that there was a danger in the midst of the night. But I knew I could protect her if anything were to happen. And I had a feeling she could protect herself just fine if ever caught in such a dire situation.

I caught up to the end of the trail of her scent. She stood on a bridge with her hands on the railing, facing the water as she looked down into the calming water. She didn't see me yet. I stood on the edge of the river's side, careful not to distract her as she appeared to be in deep thought. I slowly walked onto the bridge, eagerly awaiting her warm smile. She turned her head as she heard my footsteps on the pavement.

Her smile met mine with such a comforting warm gaze that I was to never forget. "Hello, Artemis." She said enthusiastically.

I could hear her heart beating rapidly. I don't suppose she knew that I knew. But mine felt like it was about to beat out of my chest as well.

"Hello, Sera." I responded. "Lovely to see you again." I said.

"Me as well." She turned to face the Thames again and looking into the water she said, "The reflection of sundown is quite beautiful as it meets the water's touch."

I moved my body next to hers, facing the river as well. I turned my head and looked at her, "Yes indeed. You know, the sun also greets your hair with the same likeness." I reached out and grabbed a lock of her hair, the light wave of her hair twirling around my fingers as my eyes met hers. "When the brightness of its warm rays meets the waves in your hair, it's all so alluring that it reminds me of the ripples in the water at sunset."

Her eyes gleamed for a moment and her lips formed a loving smile. But then her brows furrowed, her eyes looked downward, and she turned away from me. It seemed as if she had remembered something that had formerly concerned her. I was worried. Had I gone too far? I just hoped I had not crossed a line; I was forgetting that she was merely a stranger, and yet I felt as if I had known her my entire life.

She looked down at the river, silent for a few moments. "It's not you. You're everything that is wonderful in this moment right now. But I'm worried, Artemis. I'm quite very concerned. And I don't know what to do."

"What is the matter, Seraphina?" I asked concerningly.

"It's witch matter. I don't know if you would understand, but it weighs heavily upon me."

"I would be more than willing to listen to whatever concerns your mind." I said sympathetically.

"It's the coven. Its fate now rests upon my shoulders. My mother—she wanted to wait until after my 18th birthday to tell me but it slipped out of her just before I departed to meet you here. She's retiring as coven leader and she wants me to be the new leader of the coven."

I was listening ever so attentively. I nodded, cueing for her to continue on.

"Since the Augustin bloodline is one of the strongest and powerful witch bloodlines, it is only fitting that I become the new leader of the coven, as my mother stated. But, I wasn't ready for her to bring this upon me. It was all so very unexpected and quite overwhelming. So I told her I needed fresh air and time to think."